Imaginary Worlds Puppeteering Project Hail Mary
Mar 25, 2026
James Ortiz, a theater puppeteer recruited to perform and voice Rocky, shares how he built and operated a complex five-legged puppet. He talks about choosing practical puppetry over CGI, adapting theater techniques for film, collaborating closely with Ryan Gosling, and assembling a multi-puppeteer team to create Rocky’s physical personality and improvisational chemistry.
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How James Landed Rocky With A Handmade Puppet
- James Ortiz was hired after an improvised audition where he used a glove and his hand as Rocky's five legs.
- He got the job the same afternoon and immediately began discussing collaborative puppeteering with Ryan Gosling and producers on set.
Balancing Precision And Improv On Set
- Puppetry on film required balancing technical precision with improvisational acting to support Ryan Gosling's spontaneous style.
- Ortiz emphasized being both a leader and responder, promising improvisation between takes while coordinating multi-operator mechanics on camera.
Iterating Rocky With The Creature Shop
- Ortiz spent months in London working with Neil Scanlan's creature shop to design Rocky's mechanics and grips.
- He treated the crew like Frank Oz would be treated, asking for hinges, bungees, and handles so puppeteers could animate specific expressive moves.
